Pitted fingernails causes

Have you ever noticed little depressions in your fingernails or toenails? This is called nail pitting. It can happen for a number of reasons and is often related to nail psoriasis. You may also have discoloration of your nails or abnormal growth with this condition. Here’s more about nail pitting, what causes it, and what treatments are available.

Nail pitting may show up as shallow or deep holes in your nails. The pitting can happen on your fingernails or your toenails. You may think the pitting looks like white spots or other marks. It might even look like your nails have been hit with an ice pick.

If your nail pitting is related to nail psoriasis, as it most often is, you may also experience:

changes to the normal shape (deformation)

thickening

changes in nail color (discoloration)

People with nail psoriasis may also experience loose nails that separate from their nail beds. The more technical term for this symptom is onycholysis. In the most severe cases, nail psoriasis can cause your nails to crumble.

You may experience nail psoriasis with or without other psoriasis symptoms.

These include:

red, scaly patches of skin

dry, cracked, or bleeding skin

itching or burning skin

stiff or swollen joints

Learn more: Is it nail psoriasis or a nail fungus? »

Up to 50 percent of people who have psoriasis experience changes in their nails. Between 5 and 10 percent of people who have nail psoriasis will not have any other symptoms.

Nail pitting is more common in people who have psoriatic arthritis. It is also more common in people who are over age 40.

Researchers have recently uncovered that there may be a link between nail pitting and the severity of psoriasis in general. In one 2013 study,34.2 percent of people who had mild psoriasis also experienced nail pitting. In people who had severe, longer lasting cases of psoriasis, nail pitting was found 47.6 percent of the time.

There are a few other causes of nail pitting that are not related to psoriasis. They include:

connective tissue disorders, such as Reiter’s syndrome (a form of reactive arthritis), and osteoarthritis

autoimmune diseases, such as alopecia areata, sarcoidosis, and pemphigus vulgaris

If you notice pitting in your nails, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor.

At your appointment, your doctor will assess your medical history and perform a physical exam. Be sure to share any symptoms you may be experiencing with your doctor, as this can help guide them to a diagnosis of nail psoriasis or another condition.

They may also perform a skin biopsy. This test is done by taking a small sample of your skin or nails and looking at it under a microscope. Your doctor will likely take the sample after applying a local anesthetic, so this procedure shouldn’t hurt.

Treating nail pitting can be difficult. The pits are formed as your nail forms. Topical medications are unable to easily reach through the nail bed. Because of this, your doctor may consider corticosteroid injections into your nail beds. This type of treatment has varied results.

Another option is to use phototherapy or light therapy on the affected nails. Some doctors may recommend taking vitamin D3 supplements.

Immunosuppressant medications, such as cyclosporine (Neoral) and methotrexate (Trexall), are also options. However, they typically aren’t recommended if you only have nail pitting. These medications are potentially toxic to your organs, so the risks may outweigh the benefits.

Treating nail pitting is often a long-term process that doesn’t always have the best results. You may want to cosmetically repair already pitted nails by scraping, filing, or polishing.

In rare cases, you may opt to have them removed through surgery so that the nail tissue can regrow.

Shop for vitamin D3 supplements online.

Treatment of nail pitting and other nail issues is often a long-term process. In some cases, this treatment isn’t always effective. It’s important that you try to avoid triggers that make nail pitting worse. This includes trauma to your hands and feet.

If you’re diagnosed with nail psoriasis, the outlook varies. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that tends to flare up at different times of your life for different reasons.

People who have nail psoriasis often deal with physical and psychological stress and negative feelings about their condition. If you’re feeling stressed or upset about your diagnosis, discuss these feelings with your doctor. They can provide guidance and other resources for support.

You should also contact your doctor if you notice thickening of a nail or separation from the nail bed. This may mean you have a fungal infection that needs treatment.

Keep reading: Nail abnormalities »

You may not be able to prevent pitting in your nails, but you can reduce your risk for worsened symptoms.

You can help keep your nails healthy by:

There are also certain things that you can do to avoid triggers:

Tips and tricks

Clip your nails as short as you can. If your nails are loose, they may rub off or get more damaged.

Wear gloves if you are doing work with your hands. Use thin cotton gloves underneath vinyl or nitrile gloves when you’re cooking or washing dishes. Steer clear of latex gloves.

Skip manicures. They may cause trauma to your nails and trigger more pitting.

Use a moisturizer or cream on your hands, feet, and in your nail folds to keep your skin hydrated and protected.

pitted fingernails causes
Nail pitting: Signs, causes, and treatment

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What Causes Pitted Fingernails? - Diagnose-Me.com

What Causes Pitted Fingernails?

Pitted fingernails can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnose your symptoms now!

check your overall health status

have a doctor review your case (optional)

identify any nutritional deficiencies

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose pitted fingernails, we could:

Research the topic

Find a doctor with the time

Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "pitted fingernails" as a symptom. Here are six possibilities:

Psoriasis

Psoriatic Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Alopecia

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

Is the surface of your nails pitted with small 'dents'?

Possible responses:

> Don't know> No> Yes
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate pitted nails, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Psoriasis

Nail pitting may be an early sign of psoriasis.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™

Nail Pitting: Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Treatment

Pitting of the nails, typically the fingernails, is characterized by depressions in the surface of the nail. Nail pitting is caused by defective development of the layers of the superficial nail plate. It is common in patients with psoriasis and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from this condition. Nail pitting can also be associated with other conditions, including connective tissue disorders, alopecia areata, and sarcoidosis. Any condition that can cause a superficial and localized inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) can also affect the nails and result in nail pitting. Nail pitting can be associated with other abnormalities of the nails, including nail separation, flaking or crumbling, or other damage to or changes in the nail. Nail pitting that is associated with disease processes generally shows involvement of multiple or all nails, while trauma to an individual nail bed can cause localized pitting or disruptions in a single nail.

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